Rich Tosches writes about wasteful military spending. I oppose both the generals’ lavish lifestyles and a ridiculously wasteful F-35 program which spends hundreds of millions of dollars over decades trying to produce the most expensive plane in history, not yet tested, too complex to be combat-reliable, and likely wrong for our defense needs when finally ready at an unknown time. Our allies wisely reject it.

I oppose continuing the Afghanistan war, already our longest in history, and I dispute James Carafano’s argument that we are going to walk away without completing the mission (“No: We can’t just walk away now”). That mission was to overthrow a Taliban government that harbored bin Laden’s al-Qaeda. It was completed years ago and bin Laden is dead. Our wars’ mission creeps are more wasteful than our military procurement mess, but both must be stopped now. We can afford neither the blood nor treasure. Our people and money must be employed rebuilding our own country.

Jim Engelking, Golden

This letter was published in the Jan. 6 edition.

I couldn’t agree more with Rich Tosches about the waste in government and in particular the military. But what’s with his reference to Gen. David Petraeus and his “trampy mistress”? Paula Broadwell is a private citizen who cheated on her husband. Petraeus was the head of the CIA who lied to and cheated on his wife — that’s the story.
Tosches mentions his son, but doesn’t mention any daughters. I certainly hope he doesn’t have any for their sake, because Tosches is a chauvinist, loud and clear.

Maureen Bartel, Silverthorne

This letter was published in the Jan. 6 edition.

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“Paula Broadwell is a private citizen who cheated on her husband. Petraeus was the head of the CIA who lied to and cheated on his wife — that’s the story.”

===

So, Ms. Bartel, which part of your clarification makes Paula Broadwell not a “trampy mistress”?

peterpi

I think her concern is that Tosches doesn’t use the same descriptive verbiage to define General Petraeus. If a woman who cheated on her husband is a tramp, what does that make a man who cheated on his wife?

primafacie

Bing Crosby.

irisman

Newt Gingrich.

Phil

Bill Clinton

toohip

My response as well. It’s sexist. It takes two to tango.

Catoknowsbest

Looking at your comment here, I’m guessing you and your right hand tango quite a bit.

holyreality

CIA Chief

GregoryR

Any number of Kennedys?

Dano2

what does that make a man who cheated on his wife?

Well, if they cheated with another man, a Repub.

Best,

D

claudetgarfield

In 1939, Germany had developed a well-trained, well-armed military. Some have said, a military that begged to be used. It was used – to attack other countries.
The US has developed a well-trained, well-armed military. It begs to be used. It is used to attack other countries.

toohip

Well said, and not to mention the defense contractors who sell $billion dollar airplanes to fight a foe that has no navy, army, or air force.

Catoknowsbest

Baaa, Baaa, Baaa–Nothing but sheep here.

claudetgarfield

You’d know all about sheep. . .

toohip

The infamous “elephant in the room!” Republicans are fighting to cut what they call “entitlements” given by tax payers, but which are actually “earned” entitlements we’ve paid for. Yet, you won’t see Republicans asking to cut the largest expense we have – the defense budget – not because they live in fear of a dead Soviet Union or China who doesn’t even have an aircraft carrier – instead they want funding for their rich “industrial complex” defense contractors, President/General Eisenhower warned us about. The same for tax cuts for their rich donors. But I digress. . Anyone that’s served in the military will tell you the harrowing stories of battle, or how “rough” it was. . at times. But they also know they were well taken care of. Great food, the best medical treatments, and living conditions. Today, the military doesn’t prepare their own meals or clean their own latrines, do their own laundry, and all the rest. This is done by contractors. Even in Afghanistan, life is good. .on the base. Movies, video games, steaks, beer, the works. Not that they don’t deserve it. But life in the military is better than one thinks.

mrfxx

Please explain why both NCOs and junior grade officers make so little that many of those families are on FOOD STAMPS OR why roughly 1/3 of homeless in the US are military veterans OR why Walter Reed Hospital (once the jewel of the military hospitals) was allowed to degenerate to the point it did (mold on walls and mice/rats in the buildings when Bush’s daughters visited) OR why you are so naive as to believe that most of the deployed are on base. I’m betting you never served – and would scream bloody murder if you or a loved one were called up!

claudetgarfield

I was in the USAF for almost 5 years. I was stationed both here and overseas. Seems as tho base housing was good; the BX, O-clubs, NCO clubs, bowling alleys, snack bars, playing fields all as good as one would get in a comparable size city.
The only thing we didn’t have were fighters that cost $250 million a copy, two of which roughly equal the Solyndra “investment”

Catoknowsbest

The difference is the fighter jets actually worked.

claudetgarfield

Like the F-22? – requires 12 hours maintenance for one hour flight time. Of course, if John McCain is flying them, they’ll end up in a rice paddy.

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